Indiana Kinship Caregiver Support Services — AAA, 211, and the Navigator Program

Free Support Programs Most Indiana Kinship Caregivers Miss

Cash benefits like Child-Only TANF and SNAP get the most attention when a grandparent or relative takes in a child. But Indiana also runs several free support programs that can help with respite care, supplies, training, and one-on-one help navigating the system. The problem is that these programs are scattered across different agencies, each with its own eligibility rules and coverage areas.

Three systems matter most: Indiana's 16 Area Agencies on Aging (which administer federal Title III-E caregiver support), the Kinship Indiana Support Services (KISS) Navigator program run through DCS and Indiana 211, and Indiana 211, which offers weekday phone referrals, online searches, and 24/7 text resource searches. Here is how each one works and who qualifies.

Title III-E Caregiver Support Through Area Agencies on Aging

The National Family Caregiver Support Program (Title III-E) is a federal program administered locally by Indiana's 16 Area Agencies on Aging. Each AAA covers a specific planning and service area — CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions covers central Indiana (Marion and the surrounding counties), while other AAAs serve the rest of the state.

To qualify for Title III-E kinship services, you must be:

• A grandparent or other relative caregiver (not a biological parent) aged 55 or older
• Raising a child under 18 (or an adult child with a severe disability)

That age-55 threshold is strict. If you are 48 and raising your grandson, Title III-E caregiver services are not available to you through this program — though the child may still qualify for benefits like TANF and Medicaid regardless of your age.

For those who do qualify, the services are genuinely useful:

• Respite care — temporary relief so you can handle appointments, rest, or just take a break
• Caregiver support groups — peer groups with other grandparents and relatives in the same situation
• Kinship training — workshops on navigating the school system, managing behaviors, and understanding benefits
• Limited material stipends — some AAAs provide help with clothing or equipment
• Home modification assistance — childproofing or accessibility changes

Funding levels vary between AAAs, and not every service is available in every county. Contact your local AAA directly to find out what your planning area offers. CICOA, for example, can be reached at (317) 254-5465 or through their website.

The KISS Navigator Program

Indiana operates Kinship Indiana Support Services (KISS) through DCS in partnership with Indiana 211. A Kinship Navigator is a real person who provides:

• Case management — someone who knows the system and helps you work through it step by step
• Resource assessment — a review of what programs you and the child may qualify for
• Referrals to local community partners — connections to Community Partners for Child Safety and other county-level organizations

The Navigator program exists specifically because the benefits landscape is fragmented. TANF is through DFR. Medicaid is through DFR. KinGAP is through DCS. Title III-E is through your local AAA. School enrollment is through the district. A Navigator's job is to help you figure out which agencies to contact and in what order.

If you are a relative raising a child and you are not sure where to start, contact Indiana 211 during phone hours or DCS Kinship Indiana Support Services to ask about Navigator support.

Indiana 211 — The Starting Point for Everything

Indiana 211 is a statewide information and referral service. To speak with a specialist, call 2-1-1 or 1-866-211-9966 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. For on-demand general resource information by text, text INOD to 898211; the text service is available 24/7. Visit in211.org to search online.

For kinship caregivers, 211 connects you to:

• Benefit navigation and kinship navigator referrals
• Housing and rental assistance referrals
• Food pantry and meal program referrals
• Utility payment assistance referrals
• Support groups in your county

If you are behind on rent, facing a utility shutoff, or unsure how to feed an extra child this week, Indiana 211 can help you find local referrals. The specialists can also connect you to a KISS Navigator for longer-term benefit planning.

How These Programs Work Together

These services are not competing alternatives. They layer:

1. Use Indiana 211 first if you are unsure where to start: call during phone hours, search the online directory, or text INOD for on-demand general resources. Staff can assess your situation and refer you to local programs.
2. A KISS Navigator helps assess which resources may fit and refers you to local partners. For benefit applications, use FSSA's Benefits Portal: DFR handles TANF, SNAP, and Medicaid (Hoosier Healthwise), while FSSA's Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning administers CCDF childcare vouchers.
3. Your local AAA (if you are 55 or older) adds respite care, peer support groups, and material help on top of whatever cash and coverage benefits you secure through DFR.

None of these replace the actual benefit applications — you still need to apply through fssabenefits.in.gov or your local DFR office. But they can make the difference between an application that stalls on a missing document and one that goes through on the first try.

Getting the Full Picture

The support services above are free, and they are a strong starting point. But they work best when you already understand what programs exist, what documents you need, and how your legal arrangement with the child affects eligibility.

Our Indiana Kinship Financial Help guide walks through every benefit the child may be entitled to — Child-Only TANF, SNAP, Hoosier Healthwise, CCDF childcare vouchers, KinGAP, and more — with the application steps, document checklists, and appeal procedures in one place. It is designed to work alongside a Navigator or AAA contact, so you show up prepared.

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